ISS 310 Ethan Jodoin

People and the Environment

Auto Autobiography

Ethans history with cars is as old as he is. By the time Ethan entered this world, cars had already
taken their prominent place in society as the dominant form of transportation. The first time Ethan sat
behind the wheel, he was 12 years old. On Ethans 12th birthday, his father gifted him a set of car keys: a
promise for an old Dodge truck that he would help rebuild and polish over the next 4 years. In the
coming years, Ethan enrolled in the drivers training program from his high school. He attained his
learners permit without spectacle, and proceeded to spend the next few months driving his family
everywhere to gain experience. When the day came to take his test, Ethan passed with flying colors, and
drove over to the DMV straight after. Ethans first car was not the original dodge truck as planned, but
instead was a red 2006 Kia Sportage, given to him by his father instead of the truck, by common
agreement. While only 8 years old, the car had seen some reparations, the most notable being the
extension cords you had to plug together for the interior fan to run.

At the time of this Autobiography, Ethan has no real driving aspirations, but he does try to limit
how much he drives to conserve money and prolong vehicle life. Ethan often rants about other drivers
lack of turn signal to friends and passengers, Uttering passive aggressive phrases such as If only they
invented something to let other drivers know what you planned to do!

Ethan finds most cars appealing, but he prefers Electric and hybrid vehicles to conventional
gasoline engines. This reasoning is mostly environmental, as Ethan tries hard to limit his carbon
footprint, which means Green cars are best. Ethan endorses purchasing vehicles secondhand (half of a
Vehicles carbon impact is in the production) hybrid/Electric vehicles, or Carbon-neutral fuels, such as
Ethanol.

Ethans Parents had differing opinions about the role a vehicle should play in the teens life.
Ethans mother, LeeAnne, disliked Ethan driving at first, but quickly saw the utility when she realized she
didnt have to drop off kids at school anymore and could send a driver out for errands. Ethans father,
Chris, very much encouraged driving, and was the first person to drive with him. Ethan had very few
rules regarding cars as he grew up, although his family often discouraged driving at dusk to avoid hitting
deer and other wildlife. Several rules guided how Ethan drove within Society. The first and foremost
rule, was to drive defensively, under the assumption that all other drivers in the road are morons. This
behavior has prevented several accidents and fender benders. The other rule Ethan employs, is that on
longer roadtrips (two hours plus) to speed slightly (less than 5 mph over the limit), in order to shorten
the time spent on the road and at the mercy of other drivers on the road.

Ethans most meaningful memories involving a car are mostly centered around his senior year in
high school. His Senior Year, It was commonplace to hang out in a parked car with a close friend or two,
chatting away as the stars would revolve around them. Ethan reflects on this period of his life very
fondly, attributing his feelings to the freedom and privacy owning a car provided him.

Ethan was not nave about cars, he often referred to them as rolling metal death machines.
Accidents involving close family / friends or any major accident re-affirmed this sentiment. Learning
from other mistakes, he has never been involved in a major accident to this day. The most major
accident Ethan took a part in was when a Deer charged into the drivers side of his first car.
Remembering his driving lessons, he had not swerved to try and avoid the animal, and risk losing control
of the vehicle, a lesson learned all too well by his sister in a couple months.
ISS 310 Ethan Jodoin
People and the Environment

Ethans attitude about driving rapidly changed in the first few years of driving. Freshly licensed
Ethan would take any and all excuses to get into the drivers seat. Within a few short years, he came to
be warier of driving, and less excited. The initial draw of freedom of mobility was quickly overtaken by
the financial woes of car ownership. Gas and repairs quickly became the most pressing economic tolls
facing him. This predicament forced him to learn a lot about car repair, to keep labor costs low. Due to
lack of money, Ethan was often scared and worried about driving his often-junky cars.